Books

Restoring a House in the City: A Guide to Renovating Townhouses, Brownstones, and Row Houses wth Great Style

What do a fashion mogul, a Williams-Sonoma executive, a museum curator, and a design-savvy actress have in common? Good taste, of course, but more than that: a shared passion to "bring back," to carefully restore and artfully embellish, their houses.

They are among the twenty-one real-life renovations featured in this essential resource―from stately town houses to brownstone fixer-uppers―to give the true experience of creating an urban oasis on any street. Whether hunting for rare chandeliers, salvaging floorboards for new tabletops, or removing walls to let more light in, all the nuts and bolts of restoration are here. In Boston, a young family's renovation takes three years and includes every modern amenity (a media room, home gym, elevator), but saves most of the original interiors (window shutters and seats, marble fireplaces). A Baltimore couple―both stars of the graphic design world―must reconcile their cutting-edge tastes with their traditional surrounds.

From furniture and color to rooftops and terraces, Restoring a House in the City offers a treasury of inspiration and ideas, as well as a lavish illustrated tour of some of the best done renovations in the business.

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Elle Decor: The Height of Style: Inspiring Ideas from the World's Chicest Rooms

This book showcases more than 220 stunning rooms selected by the editors of ELLE DECOR, the magazine that is the last word on exciting, cutting-edge, and eclectic style from around the world. A must for any decorating and design buff, it shows readers how to bring the flair, glamour, and individuality of the world’s chicest spaces into their own homes. The rooms, which range from extravagant living spaces to sleek, state-of-the-art kitchens, baths, and dressing rooms, are organized into distinctive yet reader-friendly categories: “Classical,” “Fanciful,” “Functional,” and “Personal.” “What the Pros Know,” which occurs throughout the pages, presents insights, ideas, and practical advice from top interior designers, architects, and homeowners. Every chapter also incorporates “Anatomy of a Room”—in which the magazine’s editors explain how to make the inspiring ideas a reality.

Packed with beautiful color images by today’s top interiors photographers, straightforward tips, and ingenious pointers from top design talents Steven Gambrel, Kelly Wearstler, and a host of others, The Height of Style brings the magazine’s distinctive, of-the-moment mix of culture, design, and fashion right into your living room.

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